What is the full form of RHD

RHD: Rheumatic Heart Disease

RHD stands for Rheumatic Heart Disease. It is a complication of rheumatic fever which affects the heart valves. It can damage the heart valves and result in heart failure and death if left untreated. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs during strep throat or a sore throat. It affects the connective tissue of the body, particularly in the heart, brain, joints and skin. It usually occurs in children of 5-15 years of age, rarely occurs before 3 years and after 30 years of age.

Cause

RHD arises due to Strep throat which is a throat infection caused by Group A streptococcus bacteria. In this infection, our body produces antibodies to fight against the bacteria. These antibodies react with heart valves and cause inflammation of the heart valves that result in RHD. The antibodies also affect various other body tissues like brain, joints and skin and produce associated symptoms.

Common Symptoms

• Fever
• Chest pain
• Tiredness
• Heart palpitations
• Breathlessness on exertion or during sleep
• Swollen feet

The treatment of the RHD depends on various factors such as:

• The extent of the problem
• Age, overall health and medical history of the patient
• Tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies